Inspiration from Paramahansa Yogananda |
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“The Great Ones are waiting, ever calling to us to remove our thoughts from this arena of war and suffering and to enter the land beyond, where there is eternal light and peace and joy. Keep your minds uplifted to these blissful realms now, and you shall be there in actuality one day.” |
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Happy spring to all members and friends of Portland Center! |
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We offer our warm greetings to all, along with the welcome news that as of April 3, Portland Center will restore another element of our pre-covid schedule: the Sunday morning 10:00 Meditation Service. Also, on April 9 we will have our first Day of Service work party in more than two years! And you may already be aware that - at least as of the day this newsletter was sent - masks are now optional while at our Center.
As we navigate toward a new normal, we want to thank you for your support during these past years of change and unpredictability. Many of you have expressed gratitude for reconnecting with our spiritual community in person, as well as for the blessing of meditating in our peaceful chapel. They have found, as Paramahansa Yogananda has said, "When you enter a spiritual environment, even for a few hours, your mentality changes; you feel a refreshing peace."
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Upcoming Dates to Remember
10:00 a.m. Meditation Services resume, Sunday April 3. This 45 minute service precedes our 11:00 Reading Service and includes 30 minutes for silent meditation, as well as a chant and short inspirational reading.
Day of Service, Saturday April 9: See below for more information.
Good Friday, April 15: Chapel open for individual silent meditation noon to 2:00 p.m.
Easter Sunday, April 17: Although we will not have an Easter potluck this year, we invite you to be with us on this joyous morning for our Meditation Service 10:00 - 10:45 and the Reading Service 11:00 to noon.
Sri Yukteswar Birthday Commemorative, Tuesday May 10. See below for details.
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Easter Message from Paramahansa Yogananda
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"This is my Easter prayer: May all true devotees of God, uplifted by the transparent purity of their lives, begin to radiate the Infinite Light, equally present in all, even as Jesus did, and remember the long-forgotten truth that they are all potential Sons of God."
Paramahansa Yogananda
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Birth Anniversary
of Swami Sri Yukteswar
“I was conscious always that I was in the presence of a living manifestation of God. The weight of his divinity automatically bowed my head before him.”
Paramahansa Yogananda referring to his guru, Swami Sri Yukteswar, in Autobiography of a Yogi,
"Years in My Master’s Hermitage"
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Portland Center Commemorative Schedule, Tuesday May 10:
7:15 - 7:45 p.m. Optional meditation service
8:00 - 9:00 p.m. Commemorative service honoring our paramguru, Swami Sri Yukteswar. Please bring a flower or flowers as a symbol of your devotion; and if financially able, a monetary offering as a gesture of loyalty and gratitude. Traditionally, the devotee does not smell the flowers, as the fragrance is considered part of the gift offered to the Guru being venerated.
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Self-Realization Fellowship will also offer special meditations and services in honor of Sri Yukteswar. To receive further information about these events, sign up for SRF's e-newsletter or check the SRF Online Meditation Center calendar.
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Day of Service, Saturday April 9 |
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We invite you to share in the joy of serving alongside like-minded souls during Portland Center's upcoming Day of Service, Saturday April 9. The day begins with an optional half-hour meditation at 9:30 a.m., and we'll roll up our sleeves and plunge into playful work starting at 10:00 a.m.
There will be a variety of tasks in and out of doors (weather permitting), for all levels of capability. Equipment and supplies are provided, along with snacks and a vegetarian lunch. We will wrap up the day around 2:00, or whenever our 'to do' list has been accomplished.
Come and join with fellow devotees,
as together we make our beautiful Center sparkling clean!
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Landscaping Update Begins |
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Thanks to the generosity of Mark and Jolly Krautmann of Heritage Seedlings and to the dedicated work of our Landscape Committee, a centerpiece for our redesigned back yard was planted last month. In the future, this Stewartia tree will grace Portland Center's own "Temple of Leaves," with shaded seating for outdoor fellowship and contemplation.
It has been quite a process, as these photos will show:
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Taking measurements
to determine size
of the hole
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Tree arrives in a root ball |
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It's out of the truck;
now what?
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Digging that hole called for lots of muscle power |
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Give those roots
a good soaking
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Stewartia in its
new home
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Portland Center offers our gratitude to the hearty crew
who carried this project through to completion:
Bruce Mosias, J.A. Gerrard, Lisa Buchholz,
Lowell Chodosh and Peter Stasch.
To read Darden Bynum's reflections on this project, click here
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News from Self-Realization Fellowship Mother Center |
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Brother Chidananda, President of Self-Realization Fellowship/Yogoda Satsanga Society of India, recently sent an important message about the war in Ukraine. The full text is available here, along with a video that includes practice of the healing technique taught by Paramahansa Yogananda.
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SRF's Annual Worldwide Convocation will once again take place at the Westin Bonaventure Hotel in Los Angeles on August 14 - 20 and will also be streamed online, as it has been for the past two years.
The schedule and other details will be announced through SRF's social media and their e-newsletter. If you are not already a subscriber, we encourage you to sign up here to be informed about Convocation and other timely news from SRF.
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SRF Regional Retreat: Seabeck, Washington |
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This annual event, hosted by the Seattle SRF Center and conducted by Self-Realization Fellowship monastics, is tentatively scheduled to take place this year June 10 - 12 at the Seabeck Conference Center on the Olympic Peninsula in Washington. We suggest you check the Seattle Center's website for updates and registration information.
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Message from Portland Center Managing Council |
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Dear members and friends of Portland Center,
We are grateful for the many volunteers who enable the Portland Center to provide a place where we can gather together and derive inspiration from our Guru and the SRF teachings. To help maintain silence and peace in the sanctuary for devotees who remain seated in prayer and meditation at the conclusion of Sunday inspirational services, we welcome and encourage those who are interested in speaking with others after the service to do so in the foyer, Information Room or outside. Thank you!
As many of you know, annual elections are held for Council members and service readers. Because of the closure due to the pandemic, elections were canceled for the past two years and now we are in our third year. SRF Center Department feels it is fine for us to continue with the current Council, and we are happy to be serving God, Guru and the Portland Center for another year. In addition, the service readers have been approved for another year.
Spring itself is a holy season as we observe Divine Mother’s manifestations in the flowers, filling the air with perfume and birdsong in our beautiful little corner of the world. Easter is a special time, honoring Jesus Christ and what his teachings offer each one of us in a unique way. We hope you can take advantage of the Good Friday silent meditation and the Easter service, as well as the online SRF offerings. May you feel the blessings of God, Christ and Guru now and always.
With gratitude, and in divine friendship,
Kripa Raguram, Mike O'Brien, Paulette Fritsch,
Rebecca Field and Shikha Misra
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Spring Daffodils at Portland Center |
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How to Make a Financial Contribution
Portland Center of SRF is supported solely by financial contributions from members and friends, and by volunteers who donate their time. We deeply appreciate your donations to help us meet recurring expenses to sustain our Center.
For those who would like to donate online, you can now send funds through Zelle to our special email address:
If you prefer to write a check, please know that checks payable to "Portland Center" will be deposited locally and used to support our Center's activities, pay utility bills etc. Checks payable to "Self-Realization Fellowship" are sent to SRF headquarters in Los Angeles, to support SRF's worldwide activities.
Checks may be mailed to 356 NE 80th Avenue, Portland 97213.
Thank you for your support!
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Mother's Day, Sunday May 8 |
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"All nature that we behold is the Mother aspect of God, because in nature we find beauty, gentleness, and kindness. The flowers, birds, and the beauties of nature all speak of the Mother aspect of God – the creative motherly instinct of God. When we look at all the good things in nature, we feel a tenderness rise within us; we can see and feel God in nature."
Paramahansa Yogananda
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Just a reminder that you're receiving this email because you have expressed an interest in the Portland Center of Self-Realization Fellowship. Don't forget to add newsletter@srfportlandcenter.org to your address book so we'll be sure to land in your inbox! |
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